Transcript The scale of the UK’s regional problem

The scale of the UK’s regional problem
Closing the Gap Conference
14 June 2004
Peter Robinson
Senior Economist, ippr
The PSA target
“Make sustainable improvements in the
economic performance of all English
regions and over the long-term reduce the
persistent gap in growth rates between the
regions……”
(Joint HMT/DTI/ODPM target)
Levels of GVA per head,
2002, UK=100
London
South East
East
Scotland
East Midlands
South West
131
121
110
95
92
91
West Midlands
North West
Yorks & Humber
Northern Ireland
Wales
North East
Note: Estimates on a residence basis
90
90
86
79
79
77
Trend growth rates
GVA per head, 1989-2000, % p.a.
South East
London
East
Average for the ‘south’
2.75
2.00
2.00
2.25
West Midlands
Scotland
Northern Ireland
East Midlands
South West
Wales
2.25
2.00
2.00
2.00
1.75
1.50
North East
Yorks & Humber
North West
Average for the ‘north’
1.25
1.75
2.00
1.75
UK/England average
2.00
(Source: EBS)
Employment rates,
Winter 2003-04,
% of working age population
South West
79.6
Yorks & Humber
74.2
East
79.5
North West
73.9
South East
78.8
Wales
72.1
East Midlands
76.3
London
70.4
West Midlands
74.9
North East
69.8
Scotland
74.3
Northern Ireland
68.1
UK
74.9